P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today, we come to Jesus on the mountain and learn that no shortcut is worth the cost of divided worship.
Together we will pray (P.R.A.Y.) each day – ‘P’: Pausing to be still as we come into the presence of the Lord. ‘R’: Rejoicing as we remember who our God is and what He has done, and Reflecting on His word. ‘A’: Asking God to help us and others. And ‘Y’: yielding to His will in accordance with His word.
As I come before you to pray, I still my thoughts and quiet my mind. I seek to make you the center of my focus.
Prayer of Approach
Lord, with so much uncertainty in this life, let me hold fast to your Word. I cling to the promise of Isaiah 55:11 that your Word never returns empty and always fulfills what it sets out to do. Meet with me at this time by the power of your Holy Spirit.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 86 …
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Psalm 86:10
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Matthew 4:8-11
As I reread the passage, I reflect on the questions, “How is my life touched by this word?” and “How does this passage connect with my life?”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Matthew 4:8-11
Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will bow down and worship him. It is the temptation of a crown without a cross, glory without suffering, and gain without obedience. But Jesus will not take a shortcut that requires false worship. He answers clearly: “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” This moment exposes the heart of every temptation. The question is not only, “What do I want?” but “What am I worshiping?” Jesus shows us that worship belongs to God alone. Anything that asks for our ultimate trust, obedience, fear, or devotion is competing for the throne of our hearts.
Lord, I ask that you show me where my worship is divided. Reveal to me the idols of my heart and bring me to repentance.
Lord, revive pure worship in my heart. Tear down every idol that competes with you. Make my love for you stronger than my desire for comfort, approval, success, or control.Lord, revive in me a faith that trusts you without testing you. Cleanse my heart from demanding signs, control, or proof before I obey. Make me steady in your promises. Revive what is dead in my and resurrect me back to life in you.
As I read the passage for the final time, I listen to how the Lord is inviting me to respond to him. Where in my life do I need to yield in obedience to what he has for me?
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Matthew 4:8-11
Yielding Prayer
Father, I yield every false worship and every tempting shortcut to you. You alone are God, and you alone are worthy of my trust, obedience, and service. Help me worship you with an undivided heart today.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 1 Samuel 12…
Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24
Closing Prayer
Lord, enable me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to love you today with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to serve you today, by loving and caring for others as I do my own self; and, to exalt you today, by telling the people in my world about the abundant and eternal life found only through faith in Jesus